Words: Fabian Merino
Pictures: Leif Kiethly, Parker Bloom, Terry McKall
[Editors Note: Leechtown is a ghost town that marks the remains of a small gold prospecting community between Victoria and Sooke. Established after the discovery of gold in the summer of 1864, it’s population peaked at 4000 people supporting 6 general stores, 3 hotels, and 30 saloons. By 1865 Leechtown was already in decline. Little remains beyond scattered building foundations and occasional cans of Palm Bay and Lucky Lager, the prospectors preferred libation, left behind in the return to the city]
It all began while having a few drinks at the shop after a ride, ideas started to shout from the back of the alley while washing a bike: “You know what would be funny?! Let’s do a ride to Leechtown in the dark on road bikes, I can call it “Cougar hunting”.
A few days later I brought this up with Renny and he also came up with the beautiful idea called “Renny’s Mountain Keirin”, a version of the Harbour Sprints but from the top of a descent, 10 riders up. I really hope this goes down so we can add it up to our list of best worst ideas from Stuckylife.
I created the Facebook event right when I got home after talking about it, didn’t realize that it was on the same day as April Fool’s until a few days later. Called it “Leechtown after dark”, meeting at Broad Street Cycles at 6:00 PM and leaving at 6:30 PM. About 10 people showed up, the ride is 120 ish kilometers long, the first 12 kms are paved, the rest is all gravel/dirt. It was hailing and raining basically all day until we left so the trail was soaked and muddy.
Cody and Isaac didn’t want to get muddy so they sat at the front the WHOLE ride, a few of us looked like we just finished the Farmer Bill’s cyclocross race in Port Alberni last year after 10 kms of riding on the gravel. We made it to the gate (60km mark) in 2 hours with only 1 flat, took a group photo at the gate and hung out for a few minutes.
The ride back was great, a little cold and thankfully didn’t stop once. Made it back to the shop safe around 11:15 PM, I told Parker that we are definitely going to make this a Classic ride every year while he was taking a photo of my muddy face/kit.
Thanks for the ride guys.
